Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Farley bill to increase roadway safety passes House

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – A public safety bill that will keep large trucks out of the left-hand lane of a three-lane highway passed the House today.

House Bill 2300, sponsored by House Democratic Policy Leader Steve Farley, requires vehicles weighing more than 26,000 pounds or vehicles pulling trailers carrying more than 6,000 pounds to drive in the two right-hand lanes of highways with three or more lanes in each direction.

“Arizonans are all too familiar with the tragic toll of truck-related crashes on our highways, particularly on I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix,” Farley said. “This bill provides a common-sense way to make our roads safer and to save lives.”

The lane regulations of this bill will create safety benefits such as:

· Positioning largest vehicles out of the highest speed lanes· Reducing the frequency of passenger vehicles being boxed in by large trucks· Reducing evasive truck maneuvers to the trucker's blind side· Providing additional spacing from life-saving median barrier systems· Providing additional truck clearance from opposing direction traffic· Improving visibility and clearance for disabled vehicles in or along median shoulders

Other states like South Carolina and Texas observed high reductions in truck-related crashes after a similar law was placed into effect.